Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) was pleased to be honored by the City of Jacksonville's Historic Preservation Commission at their annual awards ceremony held on May 3rd, 2018. The award recognized SPAR for its commercial corridor facade grant program which has helped revitalize commercial areas of the Springfield Historic District. The facade grant program was led by the Commercial Corridors Committee of SPAR, chaired by Jamie Toraason. Through this program -the only one of its kind in Jacksonville- SPAR enabled owners of historic buildings to make improvements to their facades. In doing so, both the character of the community and the experience of the customers and guests were improved.

The program has contributed thousands of dollars to local Springfield businesses and organizations and will be accepting new applications through 2018, with new grants awarded on a rolling basis. To be eligible, a business must be a member of the Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association (SAMBA), a subsidiary of SPAR. Read more about our commercial facade grant program.

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) was pleased to accept the Neighbors Get Moving award from the City of Jacksonville at their inaugural Neighborhood Awards & Community Summit on April 21, 2018. The award recognized SPAR for it's role in organizing and promoting wellness activities and the Springfield Historic District community and for making physical fitness not just a task, but a lifestyle.

[Photo: Todd Hollinghead, SPAR President, accepts the award from city and state representatives.]

The Administrative Assistant is the Assistant to the Executive Director of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR). The Administrative Assistant is responsible to, evaluated by, and works at the direction of the Executive Director. The Administrative Assistant is responsible for supporting, organizing, and occasionally managing various activities consistent with the organization’s mission and financial objectives, as outlined below. This description is intended to be broad and duties of this position will vary and grow as the organization advances. This is a part-time position.

Feature by Lily Hinz

A Rich History and A Bright Future: Lee Boys and Girls Club to Become Citi Teen Center

As many Springfield residents know, the Laurence F. Lee Boys and Girls Club, located at the corner of Liberty and 10th Street, served the community for nearly 50 years, but closed after summer camp in 2015. The recession and rising maintenance costs took a toll on the facility, which necessitated a total renovation of the buildings and the grounds.

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) was honored for our work supporting commercial revitalization at the 2018 LISC Community Development Awards held earlier this week.

Todd Hollinghead and Kevin O'Halloran accept the award for SPAR. Photo by Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville.

We have worked to encourage the success of both our established and new businesses in Springfield, with advocacy, patronage and programs. Through the Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association (SAMBA), a subsidiary of SPAR, we have connected potential businesses with property owners, provided grants to small businesses to encourage investment, and organized popular events supporting entrepreneurs. Our goal is to create healthy, vibrant commercial districts in Springfield, and we're pleased to be recognized for our role in the neighborhood's progress.

Kelly Rich, an experienced preservationist and community leader to head Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – (January 30, 2018) — Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) has hired Kelly Rich as the organization’s new executive director, effective Feb. 19. Rich comes to SPAR with more than 10 years of experience as an active preservationist, community leader and event planner.

“We were very lucky to find such an experienced and accomplished advocate to help carry SPAR as we continue our momentum,” said Todd Hollinghead, president of the board of directors. “Our previous executive directors set high standards for our new director, but after an extensive, nationwide search, we are delighted Kelly agreed to join us. She is the perfect fit for SPAR as our neighborhood grows both in number of active residents and commercially.”

Rich will lead SPAR’s activities and efforts making Historic Springfield a preferred place in which to live and do business. She will lead programs that drive the preservation, revitalization and balanced growth of the community.

I am writing to you on behalf of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR), a neighborhood non-profit representing the Springfield historic district in Jacksonville, FL. Our organization opposes HB 521 and SB 574 as we believe it would have a detrimental effect on our local economy and the environmental resiliency of our community.

The past twelve months have been extraordinary for SPAR and Springfield, both within our residential blocks and along our commercial corridors. Our signature annual events – the Historic Springfield Tour of Homes, the July 4th Throwback Baseball Game, and Jacksonville PorchFest – were all bigger and better than ever, with record-setting attendance and great publicity for our community.

We worked with the City and municipal agencies on dozens of issues, hosted community meetings and preservation workshops, led cultural projects, completed numerous neighborhood cleanups, improved public safety and activated our parks with popular programming and permanent public art. We welcomed fantastic new businesses to Main Street and supported our existing businesses through an invigorated business association (SAMBA) and entrepreneur-friendly events. And of course, we welcomed many new neighbors to our Springfield Historic District community, and assisted with their countless questions regarding our unique, diverse neighborhood.

We take our role as a community leader seriously, but these activities and their positive impacts would not be possible without the support of hundreds of Springfield residents and community partners. I speak on behalf of the SPAR Board of Directors and our staff, in saying that we are all deeply appreciative of each and every contribution of time, funds and talent. (Read more)